ObituaryLester “Les” Darrel Gibbs, age 70, of El Dorado Springs, MO, passed away in his home on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. Les was born March 16, 1945, the son of Lester and Hester (Pace) Gibbs.

In 1963 Les graduated from El Dorado Springs High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served several tours in Vietnam as a helicopter mechanic.

Preceding him in death were his parents and two sisters: Carol Thomas and Peggy Sibley.

Survivors include his three children: Darrel Gibbs, Donald Gibbs, and Brandy Reavy; twenty-one grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; one aunt, Margaret Smith; one uncle, Don Gibbs; and many other family members and friends. Les also leaves behind his good friend Jim Toliver, who he visited with nearly every day, and his two faithful dog companions, Buster and Frito.

Les enjoyed telling stories about his days in the Air Force, working on helicopters. He enjoyed cooking and talking about new recipes he wanted to try. He enjoyed talking about his family, and always had a smile while telling a story. Les was diagnosed with lung cancer, but always kept a positive outlook, saying he was going to beat this.

He said the doctor would always ask, “How are you feeling,” and Les would always reply, “I feel great, there’s no other way to feel.” The doctor would ask, “Are you in pain?” Les would always reply, “That word is not in my vocabulary.”

Les kept in contact with his friends and family by phone and just enjoyed visiting. Anyone who truly knew Les realized he had a lot of stories. So let’s remember those stories and the smile in his voice and always on his face when you walked into his home.

He will be dearly missed.

Funeral services for Les Gibbs will be held on Friday, September 18, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at Bland-Hackleman Chapel with Rev. James Coleman officiating. Burial will follow in Sandridge Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.